Institute gets strong report card

Waiariki Institute of Technology has continued increasing its pass rates for students.

A report recently released by the Tertiary Education Commission showed Waiariki's performance across a range of performance indicators in 2011, including pass rates.

Waiariki lifted its successful completion of courses last year, across all levels of study, to 73 per cent. This was up from 65 per cent in 2010 and 50 per cent in 2009.

Acting Waiariki chief executive Keith Ikin said the results showed how well the institute was progressing.

"Given Waiariki affords opportunity to study for all, through its admission policies, these are fantastic results which confirm the wonderful job our staff do for our community," Mr Ikin said.

However, the report showed that Waiariki measured at 16th for its pass rates nationally, when measured against the 17 other institutes of technology and polytechnics in New Zealand.

"The challenge for Waiariki is to continue the rise and continue to improve the success rates for government identified priority groups, like Maori, Pacifica and under-25 learners."

Mr Ikin said Waiariki had the largest percentage of Maori students in the country and improvement in their success remained a major target.

"We have doubled the learner support staff across the institute and are continually looking at ways we can further engage and connect with students for their success."

The Performance of Tertiary Education Organisations report stated that the information provided did not give a comprehensive picture of an organisation's overall performance, only a snapshot of selected performance indicators.